Method for performing games

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for carrying out a game of the type comprising the steps of noting written information on a writing surface with the aid of a writing means. The writing surface is provided with a position-coding pattern and the writing means is a combined writing and reading unit, which continually reads its movement across the writing surface. The information is converted into digital signals and is sent via a communication system to a recipient which returns feedback on the received information. Examples of games that can be performed by means of such a method are pools, lotto, betting and various other games comprising the use of pen and paper to be carried out.

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for performing gamesaccording to the preamble to claim 1.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] When participating in different kinds of betting or games such aslotto, pools, harness racing, horse and dog racing, use is made ofspecial preprinted coupons where the better fills in, for instance, thenumber of a competitor on which he puts his money to be the winner, theoutcome of a match between two teams, or the numbers which the betterbelieves are to be drawn in the next drawing. Then the better must go toa special betting shop, i.e. a place taking bets, to deliver the couponwhich is then stamped or read in a machine, payment is made and thebetter gets a receipt for his participation in the game.

[0003] Several drawbacks are involved in such a betting method. Forinstance, coupons must be printed, which many times are unique to eachround of games, and must be available in special betting shops beforeeach round of games, and the better must thus go to the betting shop toobtain the correct coupon. Moreover, the better, after filling in thecoupon, must go to a betting shop before a certain point of time todeliver the coupon, make the payment and get his receipt. In many casesthe better does not obtain and deliver his coupons on the same occasionsince, as a rule, he wants to carefully consider which alternatives areworth betting on. The latest point of time for delivering the coupon isusually relatively long before each round of games owing to the limitedopening and closing hours of the betting shop, the administration ofcoupons and the like. Furthermore the betting company does not know whothe better is, and in case of a prize the better must go to a bettingshop with his signed coupon and collect the prize. Of course, thesedrawbacks act in a restricting manner for prospective betters takingpart in the game and cause great time expenditure, planning and physicalmovement for betters taking part in the game. There is thus a need forsimplifying the betting method on account of the betting shop as well asthe better.

[0004] In addition to the above-mentioned types of betting where thebetters bet their money on the outcome of an event such as acompetition, match or lottery, there are many other kinds of party oramusement games, such as many forms of games or amusements where theparticipants use pen and paper to note text and/or figures. Examples ofsuch games are Sinking ships, Tick-tack-toe, Pictionary, Bingo etc.These games require that the participants, who can be two people ormore, be positioned close to each other during the game since a highdegree of interactivity between the participants is necessary. It goeswithout saying that this restricts the possibilities of performing thegames.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention aims at obviating drawbacks andrestrictions of games of the type mentioned by way of introduction andproviding a method for performing games and providing amusement, inwhich the possibilities of performing the game increase and thegeographical location of a participant is immaterial. At least theseobjects are achieved by a method according to claim 1.

[0006] Within the scope of claim 1, the invention can be worked indifferent ways and applied to many types of games and amusements. It isto be understood that the term writing and reading unit is to beinterpreted in a wide sense, and the unit can in some cases serve as apure input means that does not leave any legible writing, but onlyrecords the movement across a surface.

[0007] Examples of writing and reading units and position-codingpatterns that are usable for carrying out the method are disclosed, forinstance, in Applicant's own Patent Applications WO 00/73983, WO01/16691, PCT/SE00/01895, PCT/SE00/01897, PCT/SE00/02641,PCT/SE00/02660, PCT/SE00/02640 and PCT/SE00/02659 which are incorporatedherewith by reference.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the writteninformation is temporarily stored in the writing and reading unit andthe user can select the point of time for sending the writteninformation, for instance, by actuating a send button on the writing andreading unit or by moving the writing and reading unit across a specificplace on the writing surface which has a specially designedposition-coding pattern which is reserved for the purpose and triggersthe writing and reading unit to send on the information.

[0009] The recipient can, at least in a first step, be, for instance, acomputer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a mobile phone. Thetransmission can take place wirelessly by means of e.g. IR light orradio waves, such as Bluetooth®, but could also take place by a cable,electrically or optically. From this first receiving unit, theinformation can be forwarded via, for instance, the stationary telephonenetwork, the mobile telephone network, the Internet or a computernetwork to, for instance, a betting company, an opponent or a computerunit where the appropriate software is available.

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2, themethod is used to bet on the outcome of events, such as competitions,matches and lotteries, optionally in combination with the betting ofmoney. According to the invention, this can be carried out by filling incoupons which are preprinted on a sheet of paper, or some other,preferably writable surface which has the specific position-codingpattern. The coupons can be printed separately in a conventional manner,in which case the participant has to fetch the coupons from a bettingshop. The coupons can, however, also be printed in and distributed bynewspapers along with, for instance, match programs. Then it is possibleto let the position-coding pattern be unique and identifiable todifferent newspaper publishers. In this way, the betting company canread out which newspaper has reached the largest number of participants.

[0011] Identification of the participant can conveniently take place bymeans of the writing and reading unit which can be designed to send aunique identification signal connected to the participant. This enablesencryption of the sent information between the participant and therecipient, e.g. a betting company.

[0012] Moreover, the payment for participating in the game can suitablytake place via a betting account which the participant has in thebetting company and which he can order to be charged via the writing andreading unit. Moreover a possible payment of prize can be made to such abetting account. However, it would also be possible to charge the coststo a Telecom operator to which the writing and reading unit isconnected. Regarding different methods of payment, reference is made toApplicant's Patent Application “Methods and System for CommunicationsService Revenue Collection” filed at the Swedish Patent and RegistrationOffice on Apr. 6, 2001. Thanks to the identification via the writing andreading unit, it is possible for the betting company to pay a prizedirectly to the participant's account.

[0013] The preprinted coupons can suitably be designed in a conventionalmanner with special boxes intended for filling in winners, matchresults, numbers and the like. The transferring of the information canbe carried out in essentially two ways. On the one hand, theposition-coding pattern in the box that has been filled in can itself bethe carrier of the information, i.e. the position-coding pattern in thebox in question is especially reserved for a specific character oralternative, for instance a number in a lottery or the outcome of amatch such as 1×2 in connection with results pool. However, theinformation could also be identified by interpretation of the characterswritten by the participant in a certain area, and the position-codingpattern is only used to identify where on the coupon the characters havebeen written.

[0014] After the information has been forwarded, it is processed by thebetting company in question, for instance by automatic data processingwhere the participant is identified, and by checking that everything hasbeen correctly filled in and, where appropriate, that everything is inorder as regards payment. This may also comprise that the bettingcompany checks with, for instance, a bank or credit card company whetherthe participant can be charged. As a preferred alternative, aconfirmation is then sent to the participant, for instance via hismobile phone, PDA or computer. It may then be convenient that theparticipant then has to accept the confirmation from the betting companybefore the game is finally recorded and becomes binding for bothparties. The confirmation and the subsequent acceptance may then serveas a receipt for the participant to later prove his betting.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment of the invention according to claim9, it will be possible to play party or amusement games against one ormore additional opponents or against stored software by writing ordrawing, using the writing and reading unit, on a writing surfaceprovided with a position-coding pattern, for instance a sheet of paper.The participant and any opponents and/or optional software need not bepositioned in the same place, but the game can be carried out bytelecommuting as pure amusement at their leisure, while waiting in aline or in a waiting room or while traveling. Like in the betting methoddescribed above, the writing and reading unit reads how it is beingmoved across the sheet of paper. The information is digitized and sentby wire or wirelessly to, for instance, a mobile phone, a PDA or acomputer. Then the information can be sent on to a correspondingreceiving unit of an opponent where the information is presented to him.However, the game could also take place locally, involving only theparticipant's receiving unit and involving an opponent which ispositioned in the same place, and in that case the receiving unit isused as a display for both participants. However, the play could alsotake place involving computer software stored in the receiving unit. Thewriting and reading unit can also be used as a pointer for moving partsof the game appearing on the display.

[0016] Conceivable types of game that are suitable for this alternativemethod of playing are all those where pen and paper are normally used tocarry out the game, such as Pictionary, Sinking ships, Bingo andcrosswords. For instance, it would be possible to provide blocks or padswhere different kinds of game are collected and preprinted on a sheet ofpaper with a position-coding pattern for use as amusement while waitingor the like. However, it would be possible to apply this method also toother kinds of amusement games where pen and paper are normally notused. As an example, mention can be made of quiz games where theparticipant receives a question via the display, a playing card or anewspaper, and by marking an alternative on the playing card, in thenewspaper or on a neutral sheet of paper and sending the answer to thereceiving unit, he will receive immediate feedback whether the answerwas correct or not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the drawings

[0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a writing and reading unitwhich is usable for carrying out a method according to the invention,

[0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of how to carry out a firstembodiment of the invention, and conceivable equipment therefor, and

[0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of how to carry out a secondembodiment of the invention and conceivable equipment therefor.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which shows a conceivableembodiment of a writing and reading unit 1. This has mainly the shape ofa pen with a pen point 2, conveniently a ball point pen with an inkcartridge 3. 4 designates a camera with a lens which is directeddownwards at the side of the pen point 2 serving to read the writingsurface across which the pen moves. The camera communicates with aprocessor 5, in which the camera image is digitized and interpreted, andthe image data is then stored in a memory 6. When the desired amount ofwritten information has been stored in the memory, this can be emptiedat an optional time and be sent on wirelessly via a transmitter 7 whichin a preferred embodiment is a so-called Bluetooth® transmitter. 8designates a battery, which supplies electric current to the writing andreading unit.

[0022] Then reference is made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a possibleway of carrying out a method according to a first embodiment of theinvention. In this embodiment, a person is to participate in a game andbet money on guessing the outcome of an event such as a competition,match or lottery. To this end, a preprinted coupon 9 is used. This is ina conventional manner provided with e.g. text for the matches on which abet is to be made and boxes where the participant marks the chosenalternative, for instance the winning team or draw. However, the couponis special in so far as it is provided with a position-coding pattern onat least the writing surfaces that are to be filled in, and thisposition-coding pattern is read in connection with the filling in bymeans of the writing and reading unit 1. The information about theselected alternatives is thus stored in the memory 6 of the writing andreading unit, and when the coupon has been completed, the participantcan choose to send the information, for instance by marking a specificsend box on the coupon. The transmitter in the writing and reading unitis thereby actuated and the information is sent via a suitablecommunication system to a recipient, for instance a betting company. Thecommunication system can be of an optional kind and is in the shownexample a mobile telephone system, which is illustrated by a mobilephone 10 which sends the information to a central server 11, from whichthe information is passed on to a local server 12 of the bettingcompany. There the received information is processed in a conventional,and preferably automatic, manner, which conveniently comprisesidentifying the participant, for instance by a unique identificationsignal from the writing and reading unit 1, checking that the coupon iscorrectly filled in and that everything is in order as regards paymentfor participating in the game. If everything is in order, the bettingcompany sends a confirmation in the opposite direction, which suitablyis shown on the display of the mobile phone. Before the game is finallyrecorded, it is convenient for the participant to accept the particularsin the confirmation. The acceptance can take place by means of thewriting and reading unit 1 as well as direct via the mobile phone 10.Such a method for carrying out a game involves a number of advantages.The participant has documentation regarding the performed game by meansof the filled-in coupon and, besides, a receipt by means of theconfirmation from the betting company, which can be stored in the mobilephone or transferred to another medium, such as a computer, or a paperprintout. The betting method further makes it easier for the participantto participate in the game since the coupon need not be delivered to aspecific betting shop. There is also the possibility of an extendeddeadline for participating in the round of games until a time closer tothe round of games or the drawing.

[0023]FIG. 3 shows an alternative method for performing games accordingto the invention. This embodiment comprises party or amusement gameswhere a participant plays against one or more additional participants,optionally in combination with software, or the participant plays merelyagainst software. In the example illustrated, two participants areplaying against each other, and an advantage of the method is that theparticipants need not be present at the same place. Each of theparticipants has a writing and reading unit 1 of the type describedabove and a writing surface, suitably in the form of a sheet of paper 14which is provided with a position-coding pattern and which, according tothe form of game, can optionally be essentially blank or have the formof a preprinted playing board. The method is well suited for such kindsof game which comprise a great measure of interactivity between theparticipants or a participant and software and which besides comprisedrawing figures, marking e.g. boxes or writing text/numbers/symbols bymeans of a pen. The writing and reading units 1 of both participantscommunicate with a convenient communication system, which in the Figureis illustrated by two mobile phones 10 which in turn communicate witheach other, as a rule via a server 11. As the game proceeds, theparticipants act alternatingly by writing using the writing and readingunit 1 and sending the information via the mobile phones 10, the resultbeing illustrated to the other participant on the display of his mobilephone or by acoustic signals. The practical performance of a gameaccording to the method can in practice be varied almost infinitely.Instead of mobile phones, use can be made of, for instance, a computeror a PDA which both have a larger display than a mobile phone, thusimproving the possibilities of illustrating the game as it proceeds. Themethod may also comprise interaction with some form of game softwarewhich can be stored either locally with a participant or centrally witha game company. Such software also allows the performing of games usingpen and paper with only one participant against software. Below followssome examples of kinds of games which can be performed by means of amethod according to the invention.

[0024] Sinking ships: The game is performed against software, locally orcentrally stored, or an opponent. The ships are positioned by means ofthe writing and reading unit and can optionally be stored in software orelse a playing board is provided by the software in which the ships havebeen positioned randomly. During the game, shots are marked in optionalboxes and hits or misses are marked optionally by the opponent or thesoftware, for instance by means of acoustic signals.

[0025] Pictionary: This kind of game implies that two or moreparticipants are to illustrate a word by means of a drawing and anotherparticipant is to guess the intended word as quickly as possible. Theword can conveniently be given randomly by software. This kind of gameis facilitated if the writing and reading unit is designed so as to sendthe read information continually via the communication system withoutintermediate storage of the information.

[0026] Crosswords: A preprinted crossword in interaction with softwaregives the participant the possibility of being rapidly corrected andgetting immediate feedback whether the crossword is correctly filled in.However, correction requires that the writing and reading unit or thesoftware can interpret the characters written in each box.

[0027] Bingo: The participant has preprinted bingo coupons and receivesnumbers via a communication device such as a mobile phone. As thenumbers are being presented, the participant marks any hits on thecoupon. When a full row of numbers has been obtained, the participantcauses the information to be sent to the bingo operator which checkswhether the row is correct, the identity and the like and pays out aprize if any.

[0028] Voting: To establish various hit lists of different kinds, forinstance music, artists, movies. Can be combined with some form oflottery for the participants. When carrying out the voting, the identityof the writing and reading unit should be recorded so that it can beused for voting only once.

What we claim and desire to secure by letters patent is:
 1. A method forperforming games of the type which comprises the steps of noting, withthe aid of a writing means, written information on a writing surface,comprising the further steps of; using a writing surface provided with aposition-coding pattern, using as the writing means a writing andreading unit, which detects the movement of the writing and reading unitacross the writing surface by continually reading the position-codingpattern on the same, converting the information detected by the writingand reading unit into digital signals, and transmitting the digitizedinformation via a communication system to a recipient.
 2. A method forperforming games as claimed in claim 1, wherein the writing and readingunit, in addition to detecting the movement across the writing surface,also leaves written information, which is legible to the user's eye, onthe writing surface.
 3. A method for performing games as claimed inclaim 1, wherein feedback on the transmitted information is receivedfrom the recipient via the communication system.
 4. A method forperforming games as claimed in claim 1, wherein, as the writing surface,use is made of preprinted coupons for betting on the outcome of an eventsuch as a competition, match or drawing of numbers.
 5. A method forperforming games as claimed in claim 4, wherein money is bet on theoutcome of the event.
 6. A method for performing games as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the coupon is completed and the information is storedin the writing and reading unit before the information is forwarded. 7.A method for performing games as claimed in claim 4, wherein aconfirmation is received from a betting company which arranges the game.8. A method for performing games as claimed in claim 7, wherein theparticipant gives his acceptance of the confirmation from the bettingcompany before the game is registered as being valid.
 9. A method forperforming games as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game is performed asa party game or amusement game against one or more opponents and/orsoftware.
 10. A method for performing games as claimed in claim 1,wherein the writing and reading unit sends the information continuallyto the receiving unit without intermediate storage.
 11. A method forperforming games as claimed in claim 1, wherein a game operator providesblocks or pads with different games that can be used as entertainment bya participant as desired.
 12. A method for performing games as claimedin claim 1, wherein the writing and reading unit sends a uniqueidentification signal which is utilized of the recipient for identifyingthe participant.
 13. A method for performing games as claimed in 1,wherein the information between the participant and the recipient issent encrypted by utilizing the unique identification signal of thewriting and reading unit.